It’s the third year for Gambler’s Run Music Festival, hosted by the Crystal Bay Casino from Thursday July 24 to Saturday July 26. The indoor/outdoor festival brings 15 bands to the North Lake Tahoe venue to celebrate music, mountains, gambling and more. Attendees must be 21 and older.

General Manager Eric Roe said operations are running smoother after two years’ experience, and they are excited for what’s in store.

“It’s just another killer lineup,” he said.

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THE FESTIVAL

Gambler’s Run has an outdoor stage, and it also uses the Crown Room stage inside the casino to alternate music so one band starts when another stops. Roe said there can be 1,000 people in attendance and there’s not a bad seat in the house.

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“We have the uniqueness of having an outdoor venue in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, but it still has that intimate feeling that we give our guests and we are known for,” he said.

There are many art elements added this year decorating the grounds. Most were created by Production Manager Sam Shear. There’ve added more chaise structures, a new VIP tent outside and lots of little things, Roe said.

Shear said the festival is different from other types of music events by having the casino aspect. He said it is a traditional music festival with multiple stages, but also you can go inside and have a little adult fun.

“Maybe you get to sit down with one of your favorite musicians and play with them,” he said. “It’s a fun, interactive component.”

Also in attendance will be several food and crafts vendors. Attendees can grab dinner or other treats and enjoy shopping from local artisans. There are also several non-profits who will have booths to share their messages. There is a poker run taking place throughout the weekend, where fans can get cards and whoever has the best hand at the end of the night will win tickets for next year’s festival.

The casino has built a small recording studio on the premises. New local podcast Sierra Soundwaves will be broadcasting on site taking interviews with fans and musicians. Some bands will get the chance to record music exclusively for the podcast.

THE MUSIC

Shear said they have a diverse selection of music, and these are bands that you would find in the Crown Room at any given night throughout the year.

“Each day has kind of a strong mix of different music,” he said. “It’s a festival so we want to showcase a lot of new bands. Brent Harding, our talent buyer, has done a killer job on acquiring talent, so the idea is it’s a very eclectic group of musicians in a festival setting that will create unique experiences.”

The festival kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. with Paul Thorn and then Brothers Comatose headlining. There are seven shows on Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight with Beats Antique headlining on Saturday and Papadosio on Sunday. Beats Antique has a performative art show, and this will possibly be Papadosio’s only time playing at the Crystal Bay Casino, since they announced they’re retiring after this tour.

“That’s a feather in our cap,” Roe said. “We haven’t had them here before, so having them on their last year of touring is pretty special.”

He said there’s a lot of good music to look forward to with some up-and-coming bands that have not played the casino before.

“The one I’m looking forward to the most is Magoo,” he said. “They are just a fun, kind of bluegrass band, but they have a little different feel to them.”

There will be familiar bands that have played the casino several times like North Mississippi All Stars and MarchFourth. Other bands include Monophonics, Thumpasaurus, Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, Smokey the Groove, My Sun the Hurricane, Squeaky Feet, and Sundays at Midnight. There’s also a special set each day called the Gamblers Getdown featuring Cliff Porter.

Roe said they listen to their fans and get bands they would prefer.

“We try to hit the genres that work for us up here,” he said. “The audience has spoken, and this is who they want to listen to.”

COMMUNITY

Roe said the community is an integral part of being able to host this event. The fans have supported them, and he said they are lucky to have a very loyal following. An event like this can get pricey, but they strive to keep ticket prices low — initially selling three-day passes for $125. That’s where partnerships and sponsors are key, he said.

“They’re really integral to us by helping pull this off and making it affordable to the guests,” Roe said. “I would challenge anybody to find a cheaper festival ticket out there where they can see this caliber lineup.”

Shear said their sponsors help the Gambler’s Run not feel like a commercial event. These are tailored groups they want to represent their brand.

“It’s a smaller event and locally owned,” he said. “To have local organizations be our core sponsor is really important to us.”

SUSTAINABILITY

Last year the festival launched a “Zero Plastic” initiative to reduce waste.

“Something that we’re really proud of and put a lot of time into is sustainability of the festival,” Roe said.

The festival partnered with non-profit organizations and saved more than 75,000 plastic cups and 22,000 water bottles from going to the landfill. He said this aligns with the community in Tahoe and keeping the lake clean, and the casino continues this effort daily.

“We have essentially eliminated all single-use plastic from the property,” Roe said. “It’s something the locals are very appreciative of, and we’re proud of being one of the first venues to pull this off. It isn’t easy, and it has its challenges, but it’s the right thing to do.”

The non-profit organizations are invited back this year, and they will give talks and have sign-ups for events like a beach cleanup. Roe said the festival will have signed posters and merchandise for guests who get involved with these tasks.

GAMBLER’S GET DOWN

A unique offering from the festival is the Gamblers Getdown featuring Porter. These shows take place Friday and Saturday on the Crown Room stage at 5 p.m. These include Porter on drums, his son on bass, and any other musicians from the festival who wish to join.

“What I do is I try to grab guys from the bands that are playing, and we just hit the stage and just go for it, and it turns into a really dope funk jam,” he said. “It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see guys come together who have never played before and just see how musicianship and conversations on stage can come together on the fly.”

They might make up a song, come up with a phrase for the audience to sing, or groove into a familiar tune if they are feeling it. It’s all improvised on the spot, and he said it’s something always different and you won’t see at any other show.

“It’s a really fun experience,” he said. “I love doing this, so I’m excited to be back doing it.”

Porter said he’s eager to play the festival but also happy to attend and see all the music. He plans to hang out the whole time and mingle in the crowd.

“I love the community, and I love how it’s really about the music,” he said. “They have a killer lineup, so it’s a lot of bands I’m looking forward to seeing. I’m a fan of music before I’m an artist.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Gamber’s Run Music Festival

WHEN: July 24-26

WHERE: Crystal Bay Casino. 14 NV-28, Crystal Bay, NV

MORE INFO, TICKETS: crystalbaycasino.com/gamblers-run-music-festival